Champagne Bar

Phil Vettel/Tribune photo

The Peninsula Grill is widely regarded as Charleston's finest restaurant, and perhaps one day I'll eat there. But on one visit the place was booked solid, on another trip I had less-expensive dining in mind and this time … the dining room is lovely, in a neutral, hushed, gently lit sort of way, but the place didn't excite me. But the marble-topped bar and ebony-wood back bar of the adjoining Champagne Bar, which offers plenty of liquid enticements and a fun little appetizer selection? Now you're talking. So we bellied up and lit into a lobster trio (sauteed lobster medallion with lobster beignet and lobster ravioli), a beautiful heirloom-tomato salad and a foie-gras composition with barbecued duck, black-pepper biscuit and peach jam. Our waiter/bartender Chris regaled us with local tales, including the factoid that Charlestonians guzzle more Grand Marnier than anybody (which I assume is true, because who would make up something like that?). The Champagne Bar offers a three-taste flight of Grand Marnier, including the 150-year stuff, but you needn't indulge to that extent. Just pick a bar, order a shot of "granmar," as they call it, and they'll treat you like a native son. Or so I'm told. 112 N. Market St., 843-723-0700; peninsulagrill.com

The Peninsula Grill is widely regarded as Charleston's finest restaurant, and perhaps one day I'll eat there. But on one visit the place was booked solid, on another trip I had less-expensive dining in mind and this time … the dining room is lovely, in a neutral, hushed, gently lit sort of way, but the place didn't excite me. But the marble-topped bar and ebony-wood back bar of the adjoining Champagne Bar, which offers plenty of liquid enticements and a fun little appetizer selection? Now you're talking. So we bellied up and lit into a lobster trio (sauteed lobster medallion with lobster beignet and lobster ravioli), a beautiful heirloom-tomato salad and a foie-gras composition with barbecued duck, black-pepper biscuit and peach jam. Our waiter/bartender Chris regaled us with local tales, including the factoid that Charlestonians guzzle more Grand Marnier than anybody (which I assume is true, because who would make up something like that?). The Champagne Bar offers a three-taste flight of Grand Marnier, including the 150-year stuff, but you needn't indulge to that extent. Just pick a bar, order a shot of "granmar," as they call it, and they'll treat you like a native son. Or so I'm told. 112 N. Market St., 843-723-0700; peninsulagrill.com (Phil Vettel/Tribune photo)

The Peninsula Grill is widely regarded as Charleston's finest restaurant, and perhaps one day I'll eat there. But on one visit the place was booked solid, on another trip I had less-expensive dining in mind and this time … the dining room is lovely, in a neutral, hushed, gently lit sort of way, but the place didn't excite me. But the marble-topped bar and ebony-wood back bar of the adjoining Champagne Bar, which offers plenty of liquid enticements and a fun little appetizer selection? Now you're talking. So we bellied up and lit into a lobster trio (sauteed lobster medallion with lobster beignet and lobster ravioli), a beautiful heirloom-tomato salad and a foie-gras composition with barbecued duck, black-pepper biscuit and peach jam. Our waiter/bartender Chris regaled us with local tales, including the factoid that Charlestonians guzzle more Grand Marnier than anybody (which I assume is true, because who would make up something like that?). The Champagne Bar offers a three-taste flight of Grand Marnier, including the 150-year stuff, but you needn't indulge to that extent. Just pick a bar, order a shot of "granmar," as they call it, and they'll treat you like a native son. Or so I'm told. 112 N. Market St., 843-723-0700; peninsulagrill.com